Overtime thriller ends via gutsy 2-point conversion for Clear Creek

Wildcats quarterback Jarrett Hildreth, right, made himself right at home in the end zone Friday night, accounting for six scores.

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Clear Creek wide receiver Landon Etzel, right, hauled in the game-winning two-point conversion Friday night, capping a high-scoring affair that saw the Wildcats blow a 20-point lead only to pull out the victory in overtime.

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Clear Creek head coach Darrell Warden walks the sidelines during the second half of a high school football game against Clear Springs at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Springs wide receiver Devin Milburn (4) scores a touchdown in double overtime against Clear Creek during a high school football game at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Springs defender Blake Tessitore (27) is called for pass interference on Clear Creek wide receiver C.J. Green (20) during the second half of a high school football game at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Creek running back Kaliq Kokuma (4) watches from the sidelines after being injured in the first half of a high school football game against Clear Springs at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Springs' Matt Guidry avoids a tackle from Clear Creek's Ben Sutton (21) during the first half of a high school football game at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Creek head coach Darrell Warden is drenched by Bailey Burton after defeating Clear Springs 63-62 in double overtime during a high school football game at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Creek wide receiver Davon Smith scores a touchdown in double overtime against Clear Springs during a high school football game at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Springs quarterback Zach Cripps (18) scores a touchdown during the second half of a high school football game against Clear Creek at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Creek Andrew Wiesen looks for running room during the second half of a high school football game against Clear Springs at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Creek Andrew Wiesen looks for running room during the second half of a high school football game against Clear Springs at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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A Clear Creek fans cheers during the second half of a high school football game against Clear Springs at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Springs head coach Frank Maldonado talks with a referee during the second half of a high school football game against Clear Creek at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Springs Joshua Washington dives for extra yards during the second half of a high school football game against Clear Creek at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Creek band members attempt to stay warm on a cool night during the second half of a high school football game against Clear Springs at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Creek wide receiver Davon Smith (6) dives for a first down during the second half of a high school football game against Clear Springs at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Creek running back Kaliq Kokuma (4) takes off during the first half of a high school football game against Clear Springs at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Springs fans cheer during the first half of a high school football game against Clear Creek at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Caden Lockler, 10, welcomes the Clear Springs Chargers onto the field as they prepare to face off against the Clear Brook Wildcats at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Springs Joshua Washington returns the ball on a kickoff during the first half of a high school football game against Clear Creek at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Springs' Matt Guidry is tackled by a swarm of Clear Creek defenders during the first half of a high school football game at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Creek quarterback Jarrett Hildreth, (left) celebrates with his brother Chase after running back Kaliq Kokuma (4) scores a touchdown during the first half of a high school football game against Clear Springs at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Springs quarterback Zach Cripps (18) throws during the first half of a high school football game against Clear Creek at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Creek running back C.J. Green (20) scores a touchdown past Clear Springs' Joshua Washington (14) during the first half of a high school football game at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Springs quarterback Zach Cripps (18) celebrates after running back Jake Chatman scored a touchdown during the first half of a high school football game against Clear Creek at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Springs' William Petit (16) celebrates after sacking Clear Creek quarterback Jarrett Hildreth (left) during the first half of a high school football game at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Creek wide receiver Davon Smith (6) catches a pass past Clear Springs defender Joshua Washington (14) during the first half of a high school football game at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Springs' Matt Guidry avoids a tackle from Clear Creek's Ben Sutton (21) during the first half of a high school football game at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

Photo By J. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle

Clear Creek quarterback Jarrett Hildreth looks up to the referee after scoring a touchdown during the first half of a high school football game against Clear Springs at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

Photo By J. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle

Clear Springs fans cheer during the first half of a high school football game against Clear Creek at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

Photo By J. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle

Caden Lockler, 10, welcomes the Clear Springs Chargers onto the field as they prepare to face off against the Clear Brook Wildcats at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

Photo By J. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle

Clear Springs Joshua Washington returns the ball on a kickoff during the first half of a high school football game against Clear Creek at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

Photo By J. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle

Clear Springs' Matt Guidry is tackled by a swarm of Clear Creek defenders during the first half of a high school football game at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

Photo By J. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle

Clear Creek running back Kaliq Kokuma (4) takes off during the first half of a high school football game against Clear Springs at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

Photo By J. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle

Clear Creek running back Kaliq Kokuma (4) scores on a 52-yard run during the first half of a high school football game against Clear Springs at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

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Clear Creek wide receiver Landon Etzel (11) is unable to bring down a catch past Clear Springs defender Joshua Washington during the second half of a high school football game at CCISD Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, in League City.

Clear Lake needed to beat Dickinson by nine points Thursday to guarantee its playoff spot. The Falcons, missing on a would-be touchdown in the final seconds, instead won by three and put their playoff hopes in the hands of Friday's winner.

They needed Clear Springs to win. Instead, Dickinson takes the last playoff spot and Clear Lake is out.

"Creek made a play and we're in," said Dickinson running back Krysten Hammon, who was attendance. "You could call me a Wildcat today."

Clear Springs (6-4, 3-3) is the top seed in Division I, with Clear Falls the runner-up.

Clear Creek (top seed) and Dickinson move on to the Division II bracket. The Wildats and Chargers will have a playoff doubleheader next Saturday at Deer Park's Abshier Stadium.

Clear Springs had the ball first in overtime, converting a fourth-and-short before Zach Cripps eventually found Devin Milburn for the 7-yard score and 62-55 lead.

On the next play, Hildreth threw to Davon Smith right before he was hit in the backfield, and the sophomore receiver ran 25 yards down the sidelines for the touchdown.

The offense came back on the field, and with most of the play flowing to the right, Hildreth looked back left. Etzel started on the right side of the formation but broke free on the left and was alone for the game-winner.

"We really didn't have a whole lot to lose," Clear Creek head coach Darrell Warden. "We wanted this game really bad and we felt like - at the time - that was the best opportunity for us to win it."

Down 20 points at one time, Clear Springs made it a game in a wild, back-and-forth second half.

The teams combined for 85 points after halftime, including 28 in the opening 3:17 of the third quarter.

Following a C.J. Green 75-yard touchdown run that put the Wildcats up 41-20 in the third, the Chargers answered with 21 straight points to tie the game.

The tie lasted 23 seconds. A big kickoff return led to a short touchdown run for the Wildcats, who then recovered an onside kick, leading to Hildreth finding Etzel for a 42-yard score and 55-41 lead.

But Clear Springs didn't go away. Cripps threw a touchdown to Jared Singleton with 8:46 left to pull the Chargers within a score.

The senior quarterback then caught the tying score, lining up as a tight end and catching a Matt Guidry pass for the touchdown with 2:14 left in the game, sending it to overtime.